As a Brit, scones have always been a favourite of mine (especially freshly warm from the oven with lashings of strawberry jam). So with Easter upon us, I decided to get creative in the kitchen and give them an Easter-themed twist, enter: Hot Cross Scones! If, like me, you love hot cross buns and you also love scones, you're going to adore these.
Preheat your oven to 200c and line a baking tray with baking/greaseproof paper
Making The Dry Ingredients
Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Then stir in the pinch salt, mixed spice and sugar with a large wooden spoon
Add the vegan butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs
Stir in the dried fruit
Making The Wet Ingredients
Measure the milk in a small jug or glass and stir in the apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice) and vanilla extract
Set aside - it should start to bubble
Bringing It All Together
Add the wet milk mixture bit-by-bit (to the dry mixture) and stir until it forms a slightly sticky dough
You may need to add a little more flour or milk to achieve the right consistency
Lightly flour your work surface and form the dough into a ball. Sprinkle a little flour onto the dough and your rolling pin, then roll it out slightly until it's around 1" thick
Using a 6cm cutter, stamp out 4 scones and carefully place on your baking trays (don't twist the cutter)
Roll out again and cut out more
Brush the top of each scone with soy milk
Making The Crosses
Mix the 50g plain flour with around 2 tbsp water until it forms a dough and roll out it out thinly
Cut out strips and place the strips on your scones
Brush with milk again and place in the oven for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and risen
Making The Glaze
Add 2 tbsp caster sugar to a small sauce pan along with 2 tbsp water and heat until the sugar has dissolved
Brush this over the scones once you've taken them out of the oven
Leave to cool for 5-10 minutes before eating
Notes
Best served and eaten fresh (but will keep in an airtight container for a few days)